Republicans Find Filibuster Loophole
Reported by Marie Therese - November 17, 2004 -
On Big Story with John Gibson (11/16/04), Judge Andrew Napolitano outlined the "nuclear option" that is available to the Republicans as a way to break any filibuster the Democrats might try in order to block a conservative judicial nomination.
NAPOLITANO: "... That's the other problem that the President is worried about, that the Democrats in the Senate will filibuster his nominees ... In order to break a filibuster, you need 60 votes. There are only 55 Republicans. The nuclear option' is this. Senator Bill Frist, majority leader, stands up and interrupts the filibuster and says 'Mr. President (to Vice President Cheney, the President of the Senate), I suggest that this filibuster is improper because the judicial branch of government.' Vice-President Cheney rules the filibuster out of order. The Democrats go wild. It takes 60 votes. No! It only takes 51 votes to sustain the rule of the chair. Then they could proceed to a vote."
COMMENT
As a first step, go to Republicans for Choice PAC. There you will find a link to a site that will allow you to contact your Senator (especially if he or she is Republican) and express you support for Sen. Arlen Specter as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. You can also let them know that you want them to vote AGAINST any attempt to exercise the "nuclear option."
